Entry #024:

2021 November 12

This week two themes prevailed in my mind: “Jomon” period and “Mingei”. These two words have been the backbone of my fieldwork for the greater part of the past two years. The Jomon period is an era of Japan that began at the end of the Ice Age and is now said to have taken place between 14,000 ~ 300 BCE. At which time the Yayoi Period began and rice cultivation became the central element of culture, beliefs, and practices. The Jomon people developed a highly rich way of life, and its heart beat still remains in our current Japanese “reason of being”. Intricate, incredibly ornate, and wildly funky ceramics and tools, as well as earthen figurines called dogu run in our blood and souls and surface in the form of our modern creations. On Mingei next time!

♡ momoko

Microseasonal Stars

November 12 - 16

Winter > First of Winter > Earth Begins to Freeze

What are you protecting yourself from? Let’s give gratitude for our great ability to protect. Both ourselves and those we love. Sometimes it’s the best tool we’ve got. 

Entry #023:

2021 November 7

For the past several days I’ve been in Shizuoka, which means I’m writing as I look out at Mt. Fuji, in its most behemoth, super-power form. It’s the first season of Winter, and I’ve been enjoying the inklings of Winter already. Including this snow-capped picture of Mt. Fuji, and kabocha, and lotus root. At the same time, we experience a crossroads with the remnants of Autumn. Foliage as it turns a deeper shade of red, and mushrooms, and persimmon. Ive’s been feeling this intersection in my personal life too. The remnants of the past season, and inklings of the new season. How are you experiencing this junction? I’m so thrilled to be in Shizuoka during this time. Fully taking isn this change with all five senses, and maybe the sixth too. It also happens to be a crossing of people from all across Japan, ultimately, isn’t it always about people?

♡ momoko

Microseasonal Stars

November  7 - 11

Winter > First of Winter > Camellia Flower

In this quieter time, you shine as the “only one” in some way, shape, or form. What is that? What is it that you shine?

Entry #022:

2021 November 2

It’s the last season within Autumn already! How quickly time passes. Recently, I’ve been incorporating into my daily meditation an intentional focus on the fact that I’ve woken up alive again. Each day we’re gifted is not a given. I’m here today because I’ve still got homework to complete. Both learnings and the pure enjoyment of what we call in Japanese “tasting” each day. Tomorrow is a bank holiday…Culture Day. What does “culture” mean to you? The Japanese concept of living or “to live” is made of three pillars: clothing, food, and home, or “i-shoku-jyu”. My perspective is that these three pillars and the invisible space in between it all is made up of two elements: the natural world around us and culture, which is essentially us, really isn’t it?

♡ momoko

Microseasonal Stars

November 2 - 6

Autumn > Morning Frost > Autumn Leaves

What are the changing colors of your wardrobe, your environment, your inner self?